Seriously, Onkyo's recent
flurry of HT-related
releases should be able to satisfy most anyone's requirements. But greedy gadget-hounds that we are, we'd like to see the BASE-V20HD system announced for Japan arrive here in the US. It's a HTIB starter system with an upgrade path already planned out. Start yourself out with the core of the system: your entry fee of ¥92,400 ($880) nets a compact 5-channel, 30-Watt receiver with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA support, DTS
Surround Sensation and Audyssey DynamicEQ; a 60-Watt sub unit; and two small bookshelf speakers. Then, when you get the yen (ahem) for true surround, add in a D-108C center channel (¥12,600 / $120) and two additional D-108M speakers (¥9,450 / $90) for rear channel duty. Sounds interesting to us, but we'll just have to keep hoping Onkyo brings this setup stateside.
posted Apr 29th 2008 8:28AM
That looks like an interesting setup and upgrade path. The only thing I really question is the amplifier power. 30W/channel is pretty skimpy. I would worry less if that was a Harman/Kardon power rating that low.
$880!?!?!
Id rather just buy the Onkyo 605 for $300, and spend the other $580 on speakers/sub that would be better than those...
agreed, amplifier power would be a deal-breaker for those who know what they're doing. Though theres always the chance that someone buying this wouldn't even care.
I think of HTIB the same way I think of pre-built computers from those "name brands".... I'd rather put it all together myself, so that I'll have more control over the components.